Syria's Bashar meets Lebanese opposition leader

DAMASCUS, Syria (Reuters) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Lebanese opposition leader Walid Jumblatt on Wednesday for talks on developments in Lebanon following parliamentary elections in which the opposition made significant gains.

Presidential spokesman Joubran Kourieh said the meeting was held at the presidential palace but gave no further details.

Jumblatt, an ally of Syria who was among the winners of the elections which ended on September 3, has called for the reorganization of Syria's ties with Lebanon to serve the interests of both states better.

Bashar, 34, who took office in July after the death of his fathe, President Hafez al-Assad, praised relations with Beirut but said more efforts should be made to perfect them.

Syria is the main foreign power broker in Lebanon where it has some 35,000 troops.

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